Selasa, 30 April 2013

Knowing What to Mentor


Knowing What to Mentor What kind of a legacy will you leave behind you when you move on to another church plant?
Knowing What to Mentor by Ron Thiesen

Knowing What to Mentor

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may bethoroughly equipped for every good work. ~ II Timothy 3:16, 17
READING: II Timothy 3:10-17
It is apparent in this passage that Paul had known Timothy for a long time and had mentored him from a young age. Timothy had developed a “track record” before Paul. You can never really know “who” a potential leader really is until the circumstances and pressures of life assail him. Then we see things that need to be changed. Though we are only agents of change, we must do our part from within a close relationship to that person.
As we read between the lines, it is clear that Paul mentored Timothy across a broad range of skills and topics, giving him generous doses of both more formal instruction in Scripture and practical experience gained as he traveled with Paul. We observe in Paul also a tender spirit of encouragement to speak to what might have been Timothy’s personal susceptibility to timidity.
On the one hand, Paul exhorts Timothy, saying bracingly: “God did not give us a spirit of timidity . . .” (II Tim. 1:7). But, on the other hand, Paul also gives kindly practical advice: “Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses” (I Tim. 5:23).
Have you developed a relationship with someone in your team or church for whom you are willing to sacrifice your comforts, time, energies and finances to see them grow spiritually? What kind of a legacy will you leave behind you when you move on to another church plant?
Father, Show me who you would have me mentor. Help me to be willing to sacrifice my comforts, time, and finances to see someone else succeed. Amen.
Dynamic Church Planting International (DCPI) “Equips Leaders to Plant 5 Million Churches Worldwide.” Learn more

The Fig Tree Has No Figs


Fig Leaves

A growing number of people have come to the conclusion that the social benefits of going to church can no longer compensate for the lack of spiritual life.
“And seeing a fig tree by the road, [Jesus] came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, ‘Let no fruit grow on you ever again.’ Immediately the fig tree withered away” (Mt. 21:19).
People are tired of going to fig trees that promise fruit, but offer a hungry person nothing but leaves to eat. They’ve been eating leaves or chewing on bark, but there is no fruit, no sustenance, no nourishment. One day they wake up and say, “No more.  Whatever this place used to mean to me, whatever purpose it used to serve in my life, this place no longer represents the Lord Jesus.  I can’t fully explain it, and I don’t completely understand why or how, but the religion of church is hindering my relationship with the Lord and it is time for me to leave.”
You do find two groups of believers in the Book of Revelation who were doing well, who received no rebuke, only praise from the Lord; only two out of seven that He expressed satisfaction with.  Before you begin to think that your church is one that Jesus is satisfied with, let me tell you one thing both these had in common: both of them were suffering persecution.  Isn’t it interesting how persecution has a way of re-arranging your priorities?  Isn’t it amazing how the only two that Jesus was completely satisfied with were the two that were going through deep affliction and persecution? Persecution brings adjustment. It brings a sense of eternal purpose.
I had a ministry to burned out pastors when I was still working for a denomination. What a great ministry; there’s never any lack of burned out pastors. I would take over their pulpit for one or two Sundays and give them a break so they could take some time off, spend time with their families, go get counseling, or do whatever they needed to do but couldn’t take time to do because they were so consumed with running their church. That opened my eyes to a lot of things.
I remember getting a call from a pastor of a medium-sized church, and he wanted to take me to dinner. I agreed to meet him because I was flattered, and I was really looking forward to it because he was someone I considered “successful.” His church was growing, they had a nice building, he drove a nice car and had nice clothes. I was struggling with all those things so this man was someone I kind of looked up to. I was hoping I could get some words of wisdom or some ideas that would help me become as successful as he was.
So we met for dinner and things are going well. He seems friendly and I am just on the verge of asking him, “What is the secret to your success?” The words were on the tip of my tongue, and then this pastor broke down right in front me. His personal life was a mess, his church was a mess, and he wanted me to take over his services for a couple of weeks so he and his wife could take some time off and put their marriage back together. I nodded and listened but inside I was thinking, “My God! Here I am looking to this man as an example of success, and he is a nervous wreck.” And that meeting taught me something.  I learned not to judge success by the outward appearance of things. I saw that pastors are just as clueless as anyone else, but they have to convince themselves and everyone around them that they really have it all together.  Most of the time they do not, and you can only be a hypocrite for so long before the whole things takes its toll on you.
I like to teach, and I have a heart for pastors.  If it were up to me I would probably be working with burned out pastors. But God had something else in mind. “Leave them alone, Chip – they are blind leaders of the blind, and if the blind lead the blind, they will both fall in the ditch.” And God showed me that until a blind leader falls into a ditch, they cannot be healed.  He can’t have his eyes opened until he realizes he is blind and has no business trying to lead others. My efforts to help them by taking over their pulpit for a week or two was like treating cancer with a band-aid.
Pastors aren’t bad people. Pastors, for the most part, are good people who become trapped in a bad system. It’s the religious system that is at fault. Yet this religious system was created by people – well-intentioned, good-hearted people who thought they were doing something for God. And now this thing called “Churchianity” has become a monster, a grotesque creation of our own hands, and now we can’t control it; IT controls us. It masters us, all the while tricking us into thinking that when we serve IT then we are serving God. The work of the Lord becomes more important than the Lord of the Work.
How far we have fallen from the days when people could look at disciples of Jesus and would notice that they had been with Him. They had been with Jesus. Now we look at religious folk dressed up and going out to eat lunch on Sunday and all we can say of them is that they have been to church.
church_wilderness_banner

God's Primary Purpose


God's Primary Purpose

“In Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.”
COLOSSIANS 2:9,10

Everything God has done, is doing, and will do is aimed at bringing us deeper into Christ, to finish what was begun in us when we first received Him. God is the One Who brings us through the Gate, and God is the One Who leads us along the Path.
Everything God has done, is doing, and will do has the same purpose, and that purpose explains everything you have been through, everything you are going through, and everything you will go through.
Source: The Irresistible Kingdom by Chip Brogden

Our God Delivers



Our God Delivers

“There is no other God who can deliver like this.”
DANIEL 3:29

The Lord reveals Himself to us when we are at our end, when the fire burns the hottest. When we have reached the end of ourselves then He intervenes. He is committed to us there in the fire, because we are committed to Him outside the fire. As we have stood for His Will and His Kingdom in a state of universal compromise, darkness, and deception, so He will stand with us in our state of temptation, testing, and trial.
Toward what end? That the preeminence we have been proclaiming may be demonstrated. He will rise to the occasion and prove Himself faithful.
Source: The Irresistible Kingdom by Chip Brogden

The Real Meaning of Baptism



The Real Meaning of Baptism

“As many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
GALATIANS 3:27

What does it mean to be baptized? It is to go down into death and to come back up into Life. We were baptized into Christ. The water of baptism does not merely signify the washing away of sins, but the death of the sinner. We go down into the water, and we are brought up out of the water. If we were to stay under the water for long we would surely die. But we are quickly lifted back up out of the “grave.” This represents death and resurrection.
The outward sign of water baptism is meant to represent an inward spiritual truth – that I am baptized indeed, not into water only, but into Christ. I died with Him, and I was raised with Him. If I am one with Him then His death is my death; when He is raised, I too am raised. God has placed us in Christ, and since we are joined to the Lord, we are one spirit with Him. The Branches will go the way of the Vine. The Body will go the way of the Head.
Source: Embrace the Cross by Chip Brogden

Kamis, 25 April 2013

Exponential 2013:DiscipleShift

Exponential  2013:DiscipleShift
The Week in Pictures and Quotes

Over the last three days (April 23-25), an estimated 30,000-plus attendees of the Exponential 2013 conference (both on-site in Orlando and throughout the world via the Exponential 2013 Webcast) were challenged and inspired to think seriously about what it means to make disciples who make disciples. Attendees heard from more than 25 leaders, such as Francis Chan, Craig Groeschel, Wayne Cordeiro, Andy Hawthorne, Larry Osborne, Randy Frazee, Alan Hirsch, Dave Ferguson and more. Below we've attempted to capture the experience in both quotes and photos. Watch for an expanded photo gallery next week. 


Francis Chan: "Discipleship is 'Follow my example as I follow Christ.'" photo by Mark Beeson
Wayne Cordeiro: "Leaders can teach what they know, but they will only reproduce who they are." photo by Mark Beeson
Mike Breen: "Jesus made disciples and got the church; we try to make the church and get disciples." photo by Mark Beeson

#Exponential2013: A 140-Character Worldwide Conversation
  
For three days at various times, the #Exponential2013 hashtag trended at No. 1 and No. 2 on Twitter, generating interest from both faith-based and secular media. Hundreds of thousands of tweets were posted, capturing the insights of speakers, the experience of attendees, the connection of friendship, the practical takeaways. Below, we've gathered a small sampling of tweets. Over the coming weeks, we'll bring you a comprehensive collection of social media from #Exponential13:
 
Dave Ferguson
"As churches let's measure how many we're sending, not accumulating."
 
Craig Groeschel
"Being consumed by what people think of you is the fastest way to forget what God thinks of you."
 
Randy Frazee
"The family needs to be restored as the ultimate small group."  
 
Chris Hodges
"A man on his face can't fail from that position."
 
John Burke
"We have to intentionally equip people to follow Jesus and to multiply."
 
Jo Saxton
"Christ's discipleship was the result of an accessible life."
 
Jim Putman
"We have to get people out of worship services only and into relationships where they're discipled."
 
Greg Surratt
"It's hugely important that you regularly sit with a group of people who love you and aren't impressed with you."
 
Alan Hirsch
"We need to embody our truths in ways that make sense to people."

15 Leadership Quotes From Alan and Deb Hirsch and Tim Keller – Live Notes From Exponential ’13

15 Leadership Quotes From Alan and Deb Hirsch and Tim Keller – Live Notes From Exponential ’13

Today is Day 2 of my conference experience this week.  I will actually be having an Inception moment.  Representing The Rocket Company, I am sitting at the Orange Conference and will be sharing insights from the morning session of Exponential.  In other words, I’m blogging about a conference from a conference.  Pretty cool!!!
Exponential ’13, whose purpose is to Accelerate Movements, kicked off their morning session with challenging insights Alan and Deb Hirsch and Tim Keller on the subject of leadership and discipleship.
After reading these leadership quotes, please check out an amazing FREE offer from The Rocket Company on helping pastors preach better sermons.  You can join Exponential live by clicking here.
Alan and Debra Hirsch
  1. You cannot teach what you do not know.  You cannot lead where you will not go.
  2. A leader never stops being a follower of Jesus.
  3. Being a leader doesn’t mean we get to point the way.  As leaders, we lead the way.
  4. You don’t just get to be a leader and rest.
  5. If you are a leader, you must be more radical now.  Not less.
  6. A leader must have current stories.  Not old ones.
  7. A leader who is a disciple looks as Jesus looked.
  8. Leaders who follow Jesus need to embody holiness.  Not moralism.
  9. Jesus’s style of leadership was humble and servant-like.
  10. All truth equals subjective change…If something is true, it must change you.
  11. We teach with our lives.
Tim Keller
  1. One of the problems with discipleship is you can’t hide…You have to be a Godly person.
  2. Natural temperament always has a dark side because it participates in your idols.
  3. Unless you’re really a Godly person, discipleship will not work because people aren’t going to believe you.
  4. You can’t them where you are not yourself.

8 Leadership Quotes From Ed Stetzer’s Interview With Francis Chan At Exponential ’13

8 Leadership Quotes From Ed Stetzer’s Interview With Francis Chan At Exponential ’13

As a member of The Rocket Company, our desire to help churches succeed.  Therefore, for the next several days I will be sharing live information from the Exponential and Orange Conferences.  These are two of the nation’s best gatherings of Christian leaders and I am constantly stretched and made better by the content provided.
Exponential ’13, whose purpose is to Accelerate Movements, featured an insightful interview between Ed Stetzer and Francis Chan.  I wanted to share those thoughts with you.
Don’t forget to check out an amazing FREE offer from The Rocket Company on helping pastors preach better sermons.  You can join Exponential live by clicking here.
Francis  Chan
  • What frustrates me is when I look at Scripture is I want to be that man.  To put me as an extremist is destructive.
  • Radical Christian living is sustainable.  My own sin keeps me (perceived radical Christian living) from being sustainable.
  • I in no way believe everyone to sell everything they have and move overseas.
  • Of course there are moments when you want to leave (the pastorate) but I don’t leave during those moments.
  • The discipleship process is an open life process.  The challenge is do you want to open yourself up that much.
  • I see myself as a bi-vocational pastor.  I don’t make my money by discipling people.
  • I’m encouraging people who are already working jobs to become shepherds.
  • I tell them (small group leaders) you are their shepherd.
As a bonus, here are some quotes from Ed’s afternoon session.
Ed Stetzer
  • Discipleship is long obedience is the same direction.
  • Discipleship is lived out in relationship with others.
  • The Gospel is not “you do”, the Gospel is “Jesus did”.
  • Attendance is a skewed measurement of success.
  • How every attractive your strategy, it’s helpful to occasionally look at the results. – Winston Churchill
  • It is more valuable for me to disciple two people rather than write a book or speak at a conference.
  • Pastors think the #1 way to disciple people is through their preaching.  The people think the #1 way to disciple is with other people.
  • I don’t want behavioral modification.  I want biblical-based living.
  • What is not a fad is people following Jesus with radical devotion.

The Fruit is the Evidence



The Fruit is the Evidence

“By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit.”
JOHN 15:8

An orange tree is an orange tree as soon as it is planted, even before it produces fruit. It is not an orange tree because it produces oranges; it produces oranges because it is an orange tree. The fruit is the evidence of what it already is. If it were to suddenly produce rotten apples then we know for certain that it is not what we thought it was. The one who has really been saved will produce “much fruit” and will “walk worthy” of their calling (Ephesians 4:1).
That is to say, the evidence of a “born again” person is not in what they say they believe, but in how they actually live. Even the phrase “born again” indicates more than just a change of heart; it represents a spiritual death, burial, and resurrection; a new life. Thus, no one can be truly “born again” until and unless they embrace the Cross, die with Christ, and are raised to Life in Him.
Source: Embrace the Cross by Chip Brogden

Ever Learning, Never Knowing



Ever Learning, Never Knowing

“Always learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
2 TIMOTHY 3:7

If in our quest for spiritual growth our idea is only to learn a few facts about the Bible, glean tidbits of information from this preacher and that teacher, fill our brains with facts and fill our libraries with more books and magazines, we run the risk of fooling ourselves into thinking that we know and understand God – when it could be that we are ever learning “truths” without knowing the Truth.
Have you met someone like this? They seem to have all the right answers, but they have the wrong spirit. They tenaciously cling to their minute opinions and cannot be persuaded otherwise. Their knowledge has not changed them, except to make them worse: for now they are puffed up in the vanity of their own mind (1 Corinthians 8:1,2). True spiritual growth is characterized by grace (not works) and an increased knowledge of Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). And, we maintain that this knowledge of Jesus Christ cannot be obtained by study, but is only granted by way of revelation.
Source: Lord of All by Chip Brogden

Watching Dad Pack the Trunk


 
Watching Dad Pack the Trunk What are we imparting to our spiritual sons and daughters?
Watching Dad Pack the Trunk by Eitan Shishkoff

Watching Dad Pack the Trunk

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. ~ Acts 4:13
READING: Mark 3:13-19
Before one of our many car trips, I remember my dad packing the trunk. Suitcases and accoutrements adorned the driveway and he began methodically arranging them in the trunk. If he didn’t like the way the bags fit in, he took them out and started over. His system was pretty simple: flat items first, then odd-shaped items to fill in corners.
I never decided to enjoy packing; it just seemed to flow from my father’s veins into mine. Somehow the challenge of fitting a lot of stuff into a limited space turns me on. It’s a good thing, since my wife is convinced that we have too much stuff for the size of our apartment.
What are we imparting to our spiritual sons and daughters? Even if we’ve established Bible colleges or leadership training centers, our students pay more attention to who we are than to what we say. My dad never said, “Here, son, I’m going to teach you how to be a packer.” He just did it and did it well. And I wanted to do it like he did.
There’s no substitute for shared life. When we open our heart, our home, our schedule, our resources, our weaknesses, our strengths, our failures and our victories to our spiritual kids, they internalize who and what we are.
When Yeshua said to “Go, make disciples,” He could have added “like I did.” His was a “course for life” ministry leadership training experience they would never forget.
Father, As I invest myself in people who have a call on their lives to pioneer, help me to hold nothing back, but nurture and correct them and release them into their destiny in you. Amen. 
Dynamic Church Planting International (DCPI) “Equips Leaders to Plant 5 Million Churches Worldwide.” Learn more

The Grace of Giving, Part 1



The Grace of Giving, Part 1 Financial giving gives us the opportunity to connect with God’s grace in partnering and investing for eternity.
The Grace of Giving, Part 1 by Jim Carpenter

The Grace of Giving, Part 1

And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. ~ Philippians 4:15-17 (ESV)
READING: Philippians 4:14-20
We church planters know what it’s like to trust God for finances. And nobody knew more about daily dependence upon the Lord than the Apostle Paul. He was in prison in Rome when he wrote to the Philippian church to thank them for two encouragements: the visit of Epaphroditus and monetary support. Paul’s gratitude also gives great instruction about the grace of giving. He teaches us five lessons. We’ll cover two today and three tomorrow.
First, financial giving makes us partners in the gospel. In v. 15, Paul says no other church entered into “partnership” with him. The Greek word is fellowship, literally, “common life.” Financial giving means we stand together to share the gospel, to pray, to shoulder burdens. Together.
Second, financial giving is an investment in eternity. Paul tells them in v. 17 that he doesn’t seek the gift but “the profit which increases to your account” (NASB). More than the money itself, Paul is thankful that their gifts do eternal good. It brings the gospel to save people from hell, it equips believers with God’s eternal Word, and it does a work of grace in the hearts of the givers.
Financial giving gives us the opportunity to connect with God’s grace in partnering and investing for eternity.
Lord, Show me how to teach, and to model, the grace of giving. Amen. 
Dynamic Church Planting International (DCPI) “Equips Leaders to Plant 5 Million Churches Worldwide.” Learn more

Rabu, 24 April 2013

BERBUAH


BERBUAH
 
Yohanes 15:1-8
1."Akulah pokok anggur yang benar dan Bapa-Kulah pengusahanya.
2.Setiap ranting pada-Ku yang tidak berbuah, dipotong-Nya dan setiap ranting yang berbuah, dibersihkan-Nya, supaya ia lebih banyak berbuah.
3.Kamu memang sudah bersih karena firman yang telah Kukatakan kepadamu.
4.Tinggallah di dalam Aku dan Aku di dalam kamu. Sama seperti ranting tidak dapat berbuah dari dirinya sendiri, kalau ia tidak tinggal pada pokok anggur, demikian juga kamu tidak berbuah, jikalau kamu tidak tinggal di dalam Aku.
5.Akulah pokok anggur dan kamulah ranting-rantingnya. Barangsiapa tinggal di dalam Aku dan Aku di dalam dia, ia berbuah banyak, sebab di luar Aku kamu tidak dapat berbuat apa-apa.
6.Barangsiapa tidak tinggal di dalam Aku, ia dibuang ke luar seperti ranting dan menjadi kering, kemudian dikumpulkan orang dan dicampakkan ke dalam api lalu dibakar.
7.Jikalau kamu tinggal di dalam Aku dan firman-Ku tinggal di dalam kamu, mintalah apa saja yang kamu kehendaki, dan kamu akan menerimanya.
8.Dalam hal inilah Bapa-Ku dipermuliakan, yaitu jika kamu berbuah banyak dan dengan demikian kamu adalah murid-murid-Ku."
 
Kehidupan kita dalam hubungannya dengan Kristus digambarkan dengan begitu akurat oleh  Tuhan Yesus dalam pasal pembacaan ini. Dalam pernyataan Yesus ini kita melihat bahwa kekristenan yang berbuah merupakan akibat langsung dari hubungan yang intim dengan Yesus. Yesus berkata bahwa Dia adalah pohonnya sedangkan kita orang percaya adalah rantingnya (cabang). Sebuah hubungan yang tidak dapat disubstitusikan dengan yang lain. Ranting tidak bisa langsung mendapatkan makanan dari akar. Dari pembacaan ini kita dapat menarik beberapa hal penting mengenai berbuah.
 
1.      Bapa menghendaki (mencari dan mengharapkan) buah yang maksimal dari hidup kita. Melibatkan memotong dan membersihkan dalam proses mendapatkan buah.
2.      Berbuah adalah akibat hubungan intim dengan pokok anggur (Yesus)..
3.      Kita cuma punya dua pilihan Berbuah atau dibuang. Berbuah atau binasa
4.      Kehidupan yang berbuah adalah kehidupan yang mempermuliakan Bapa.
 
Mengapa berbuah sangat penting bagi kehidupan kekristenan kita, karena jika tidak ada buah maka kehidupan pasti punah. Kita harus mengerti bahwa di dalam kita telah diinvestasikan kehidupan Tuhan Yesus Kristus yang pasti akan bertumbuh. Sampai kemudian menghasilkan buah.
Kebanyakan orang kristen tidak dapat memahami arti dari tinggal di dalam Yesus atau memiliki hubungan intim dengan Yesus akan menghasilkan buah. Mereka selalu mengharapkan buah yang instant (seketika).
Hidup yang berbuah adalah suatu proses yang sangat alami dari pengalaman rohani kita.
Dalam pembahasan ini kita akan melihat beberapa proses yang alamiah dari kehidupan yang berbuah. Arti dari alamiah adalah  suatu proses terjadi dengan sendirinya bukan direkayasa atau direncanakan. Tetapi sebuah akibat natural dari sebuah proses seperti yang dikatakan dalam Yohanes 15:4.
 
1.      Berbuah sebagai akibat Pertumbuhan.
Kadangkala kita tidak menyadari bahwa masalah berbuah seperti yang Tuhan Yesus katakan adalah hasil natural dari pengalaman kehidupan supernatural yang memakan waktu. Markus 4:26-29 dalam terjemahan sehari-hari
4:26 Yesus menyambung pembicaraan-Nya lagi, "Bila Allah memerintah sebagai Raja, keadaannya dapat diumpamakan seperti seorang yang menabur benih di ladangnya.
4:27 Malam hari ia tidur; siang hari ia bangun. Dan sementara itu benih-benih itu terus bertumbuh dan menjadi besar. Tetapi bagaimana caranya benih-benih itu tumbuh dan menjadi besar, orang itu tidak tahu.
4:28 Tanah itulah yang dengan sendirinya mengeluarkan hasil: mula-mula tangkainya, kemudian bulirnya, lalu buahnya.
4:29 Dan kalau gandum itu sudah masak, orang itu pun mulailah menyabit karena sudah waktunya untuk menuai."
Ayat ini secara gamblang menunjukkan kepada kita bahwa hal berbuah adalah akibat dari pertumbuhan. Tapi dengan jelas ayat ini juga memberikan kepada kita prinsip rohani dari pertumbuhan itu sendiri,
        Pertumbuhan dimulai dengan menjadikan Yesus sebagai Raja. Suatu keputusan untuk menaklukkan diri kepada kehendak Tuhan Yesus Kristus.
Kenapa kita tidak menghasilkan  buah karena kita selalu gagal dalam menjadikan Yesus sebagai penguasa tunggal dalam kehidupan kita
 
Kemudian lihat bagaimana dikatakan dalam ayat yang ke 28; “bumi dengan sendirinya mengeluarkan buah”.
Dapat dikatakan proses terjadi dengan sendirinya tergantung pada tanahnya apakah tanah itu subur atau tidak. Mark 4:8,20
4:8 Dan sebagian jatuh di tanah yang baik, ia tumbuh dengan suburnya dan berbuah, hasilnya ada yang tiga puluh kali lipat, ada yang enam puluh kali lipat, ada yang seratus kali lipat."
4:20 Dan akhirnya yang ditaburkan di tanah yang baik, ialah orang yang mendengar dan menyambut firman itu lalu berbuah, ada yang tiga puluh kali lipat, ada yang enam puluh kali lipat, dan ada yang seratus kali lipat."
        Pertumbuhan sangat membutuhkan tanah yang subur yang adalah ketaatan kita pada Firman Tuhan. Ketaatan pada Firman Tuhan adalah atmosfir pertumbuhan.
Yang terakhir dari pertumbuhan adalah bahwa kehidupan kita sebagai pohon yang bertumbuh harus memiliki kondisi yang baik. Maz. 92:13-16
92:13  Orang benar akan bertunas seperti pohon korma, akan tumbuh subur seperti pohon aras di Libanon;
92:14 mereka yang ditanam di bait TUHAN akan bertunas di pelataran Allah kita.
92:15 Pada masa tua pun mereka masih berbuah, menjadi gemuk dan segar,
92:16 untuk memberitakan, bahwa TUHAN itu benar, bahwa Ia gunung batuku dan tidak ada kecurangan pada-Nya.
Di sinilah kita melihat di mana tertanamnya sebuah pohon akan mempengaruhi pertumbuhannya. Tertanam berbicara komitment; sebuah kehidupan yang terikat janji, suatu bentuk kesetiaan kepada kehendak Tuhan dalam kehidupan kita. Dalam ayat di atas disebut bahwa pohon tersebut tertanam di bait Allah. Punya pengertian tertanam dalam hadirat Tuhan.
        Pertumbuhan adalah sebuah kehidupan yang terikat terus menerus dalam hubungannya dengan sumber kehidupan.
Kehidupan yang bersumber dari kasih karunia Tuhan dan bukan karena kita sanggup. Para rasul berdosa supaya kita bertumbuh dalam kasih karunia.
 
Kesimpulan berbuah sebagai akibat pertumbuhan; 1 Kor 13:11
13:11 Ketika aku kanak-kanak, aku berkata-kata seperti kanak-kanak, aku merasa seperti kanak-kanak, aku berpikir seperti kanak-kanak. Sekarang sesudah aku menjadi dewasa, aku meninggalkan sifat kanak-kanak itu.
Kalau kita betumbuh menjadi dewasa kita akan produktif dalam menghasilkan buah.
 
 
 
 
2.      Berbuah sebagai akibat kematian
Yohanes 12:23-26
12:23 Tetapi Yesus menjawab mereka, kata-Nya: "Telah tiba saatnya Anak Manusia dimuliakan.
12:24 Aku berkata kepadamu: Sesungguhnya jikalau biji gandum tidak jatuh ke dalam tanah dan mati, ia tetap satu biji saja; tetapi jika ia mati, ia akan menghasilkan banyak buah.
12:25 Barangsiapa mencintai nyawanya, ia akan kehilangan nyawanya, tetapi barangsiapa tidak mencintai nyawanya di dunia ini, ia akan memeliharanya untuk hidup yang kekal.
12:26 Barangsiapa melayani Aku, ia harus mengikut Aku dan di mana Aku berada, di situpun pelayan-Ku akan berada. Barangsiapa melayani Aku, ia akan dihormati Bapa.
 
 
Semua orang yang mempelajari makhluk hidup yang adalah ciptaan Tuhan akhirnya akan menemukan  sesuatu yang disebut oleh para ilmuwan sebagai “potensi alamiah” (potensi biotik). Ahli ekologi mendefinisikannya sebagai “kapasitas yang melekat dalam suatu organisme atau species untuk bereproduksi dan mempertahankan kelangsungan hidup”.
Konsep ini sama sekali tidak dikenal dalam dunia teknologi. Mesin tidak bisa melahirkan mesin. (beri contoh antara mesin pembuat kopi, dengan biji atau pohon kopi= mesin pembuat kopi dapat menghasilkan kopi untuk diminum, tetapi pohon kopi berbuah bukan saja biji kopi tapi pohon kopi yang lain).
Tapi mengapa harus mati sebagai jalan untuk berbuah?
Sewaktu berurusan dengan proses alam, potensi yang melekat ini (potensi biotik) perlu memiliki kendali yang bebas. Perbedaan antara potensi alamiah dan pertumbuhan yang terbukti (baik di laboratorium ataupun di lapangan) disebut tenaga penghambat lingkungan.
Walaupun jelas bahwa pertumbuhan tidak dapat “dibuat” atau dipaksakan, sangat penting untuk meminimalkan tenaga penghambat dari lingkungan bagi terciptanya kondisi yang terbaik untuk pertumbuhan.
Inilah yang Tuhan Yesus maksudkan dengan perkataanNya
Yohanes 12:24 Aku berkata kepadamu: Sesungguhnya jikalau biji gandum tidak jatuh ke dalam tanah dan mati, ia tetap satu biji saja; tetapi jika ia mati, ia akan menghasilkan banyak buah.
Ini mungkin adalah prinsip yang paling alami dan sekaligus penuh dengan keajaiban.
Ayat di atas adalah ucapan Tuhan Yesus Kristus yang memiliki nilai kebenaran kekal.
Di sini berbuah dalam arti yang lebih lebih luas. Kata yang lebih tepat seperti yang kita kenal sekarang adalah prinsip pelipatgandaan..
Pengertian kematian di sini adalah kematian bagi diri sendiri dan hidup bagi Tuhan Yesus. Yang dalam pengertian praktis adalah kehidupan yang diinvestasikan dalam kehidupan orang lain. Di mana kita tidak mementingkan diri kita tapi menyerahkan hidup kita untuk orang lain Bukankah ini adalah roh Yesus Kristus. Inilah prinsip yang dibawa oleh salib Yesus Kristus. Yohanes 12:32-33
12:32 dan Aku, apabila Aku ditinggikan dari bumi, Aku akan menarik semua orang datang kepada-Ku."
12:33 Ini dikatakan-Nya untuk menyatakan bagaimana caranya Ia akan mati.
 
Perkara berbuah selalu berkaitan dengan kematian dan kehidupan, tidak pernah terjadi dengan metode atau sistem tetapi kuncinya adalah kehidupan itu sendiri. Tanpa kehidupan, sistem tersebut tidak ada gunanya. Tetapi, apabila ada kehidupan, metode dan  sistem itu dapat menjadi sangat efektif. Bagian yang menakjubkan dari proses pertumbuhan alamiah adalah bahwa di dalam proses  ini teradapat beberapa mekanisme yang dapat membantu kehidupan berkembang dan bertumbuh dengan pesat. Meskipun demikian, masalah terpenting bagi setiap orang kristen adalah mengupayakan adanya kehidupan yang diperlukan untuk terjadinya pertumbuhan.
Kematian yang menghasilkan buah di sini berhubungan secara spesifik dengan pola hidup kita. Disini kita melihat bahwa kematian  terhadap “tenaga penghambat lingkungan” akan menghasilkan buah.
 
        Kematian bagi kedagingan  (kehidupan lama atau kehidupan dosa) adalah masuknya dalam kehidupan yang dipimpin oleh Roh Kudus yang membawa kita pada kehidupan yang menghasilkan buah Roh Kudus. Efesus 5:19-23
 
        Kematian bagi Hukum Taurat  (cara-cara legalistik Agama) adalah kehidupan bagi Tuhan di mana bukan kita lagi yang hidup tapi Yesus yang hidup dalam kita. Sehingga rupa Kritus (kasih karunia dan kebenaran) menjadi nyata atas kita. Galatia 2:19-20.
 
        Kematian bagi dunia adalah kehidupan yang diperbaharui terus menerus sampai segambar dengan Tuhan Yesus. Kolose 3:5-10 ; 1 Yohanes 2:15-17
 
 
Proses pertumbuhan alamiah adalah pertumbuhan yang terikat oleh waktu dan mengandung  penghentian pertumbuhan dalam dirinya sendiri. Organisme bersangkutan tidak bertumbuh tanpa akhir tetapi bereproduksi ; suatu bentuk pertumbuhan yang melampaui individualitasnya sendiri.
Semua makhluk hidup ciptaan Tuhan dicirikan dengan kemampuan menghasilkan buah dan tujuannya sekali lagi tidaklah hal yang lain tapi menghasilkan sifat yang sejenis dengan kata lain species yang sama.
Pelipatgandaan adalah proses reproduksi yang sama sifatnya di mana kita akan mengetahui bahwa buah sejati dari pohon pisang bukanlah pisang itu sendiri tetapi pohon pisang yang lain. Buah sejati dari seorang penginjil bukanlah jiwa baru tapi penginjil yang baru. Buah sejati dari seorang gembala bukanlah seekor domba (anggota jemaat) tapi justru gembala yang lain.
 
 
3.      Berbuah karena kasih karunia
Lukas 13:6-9
13:6. Lalu Yesus mengatakan perumpamaan ini: "Seorang mempunyai pohon ara yang tumbuh di kebun anggurnya, dan ia datang untuk mencari buah pada pohon itu, tetapi ia tidak menemukannya.
13:7 Lalu ia berkata kepada pengurus kebun anggur itu: Sudah tiga tahun aku datang mencari buah pada pohon ara ini dan aku tidak menemukannya. Tebanglah pohon ini! Untuk apa ia hidup di tanah ini dengan percuma!
13:8 Jawab orang itu: Tuan, biarkanlah dia tumbuh tahun ini lagi, aku akan mencangkul tanah sekelilingnya dan memberi pupuk kepadanya,
13:9 mungkin tahun depan ia berbuah; jika tidak, tebanglah dia!"
 
Dalam perumpamaan di atas kita menjumpai bahwa sekali lagi bahwa Bapa menghendaki buah. Satu hal yang perlu kita ketahui dari buah adalah bahwa buah itu kelihatan secara jasmani. Itulah sebabnya kita dapat mengenal seorang berkualitas atau tidak dari buahnya (Mat 7:15-20 baca) . Buah yang kelihatan itu bisa berupa perkataan, perasaan atau pikiran, sikap mental, tindakan, tingkah laku ataupun reaksi-rekasi kita terhadapa masalah yang datang dalam kehidupan kita. Itulah sebabnya kita menemukan bahwa Yesus satu kali melihat sebuah pohon yang rindang tapi tidak berbuah  reaksi Yesus adlah mengutuki pohon ara itu.  Dalam Markus 11:12-14
11:12. Keesokan harinya sesudah Yesus dan kedua belas murid-Nya meninggalkan Betania, Yesus merasa lapar.
11:13 Dan dari jauh Ia melihat pohon ara yang sudah berdaun. Ia mendekatinya untuk melihat kalau-kalau Ia mendapat apa-apa pada pohon itu. Tetapi waktu Ia tiba di situ, Ia tidak mendapat apa-apa selain daun-daun saja, sebab memang bukan musim buah ara.
11:14 Maka kata-Nya kepada pohon itu: "Jangan lagi seorangpun makan buahmu selama-lamanya!" Dan murid-murid-Nyapun mendengarnya.
 
Perumpamaan dalam Lukas menunjukkan keadaan kehidupan orang kristen yang mandul (tidak berbuah). Kelihatannya penyebab utamanya adalah tumbuh dalam tanah yang salah (dasar yang salah). Kita sudah lihat dalam poin 1 bahwa pertumbuhan sangat ditentukan oleh faktor tanah, dan faktor pohon itu sendiri. Kehidupan yang tidak berbuah adalah kehidupan yang percuma.
Kehidupan yang berbuah selalu terikat waktu dan Tuhan pun selalu mengerti mengenai waktu tersebut. Untuk kehidupan yang tidak berbuah Tuhan tetap memberikan kasih karunia berupa;
        Kesempatan untuk berbuah. Sebagai orang kristen yang tidak berbuah kita perlu sekali menangkap kesempatan untuk menghasilkan buah. Ingatlah hukum alam ini bahwa buah selalu muncul pada musimnya. Dan musim itu disebut musim perubahan. Dan buah yang kita hasilkan seharusnya merupakan tanda kita masuk dalam musim perubahan.
 
Pengkhotbah 3:1-11
3:1. Untuk segala sesuatu ada masanya, untuk apapun di bawah langit ada waktunya.
3:2 Ada waktu untuk lahir, ada waktu untuk meninggal, ada waktu untuk menanam, ada waktu untuk mencabut yang ditanam;
3:3 ada waktu untuk membunuh, ada waktu untuk menyembuhkan; ada waktu untuk merombak, ada waktu untuk membangun;
3:4 ada waktu untuk menangis, ada waktu untuk tertawa; ada waktu untuk meratap; ada waktu untuk menari;
3:5 ada waktu untuk membuang batu, ada waktu untuk mengumpulkan batu; ada waktu untuk memeluk, ada waktu untuk menahan diri dari memeluk;
3:6 ada waktu untuk mencari, ada waktu untuk membiarkan rugi; ada waktu untuk menyimpan, ada waktu untuk membuang;
3:7 ada waktu untuk merobek, ada waktu untuk menjahit; ada waktu untuk berdiam diri, ada waktu untuk berbicara;
3:8 ada waktu untuk mengasihi, ada waktu untuk membenci; ada waktu untuk perang, ada waktu untuk damai.
3:9 Apakah untung pekerja dari yang dikerjakannya dengan berjerih payah?
3:10 Aku telah melihat pekerjaan yang diberikan Allah kepada anak-anak manusia untuk melelahkan dirinya.
3:11. Ia membuat segala sesuatu indah pada waktunya, bahkan Ia memberikan kekekalan dalam hati mereka. Tetapi manusia tidak dapat menyelami pekerjaan yang dilakukan Allah dari awal sampai akhir.
3:12 Aku tahu bahwa untuk mereka tak ada yang lebih baik dari pada bersuka-suka dan menikmati kesenangan dalam hidup mereka.
3:13 Dan bahwa setiap orang dapat makan, minum dan menikmati kesenangan dalam segala jerih payahnya, itu juga adalah pemberian Allah.
3:14 Aku tahu bahwa segala sesuatu yang dilakukan Allah akan tetap ada untuk selamanya; itu tak dapat ditambah dan tak dapat dikurangi; Allah berbuat demikian, supaya manusia takut akan Dia.
3:15 Yang sekarang ada dulu sudah ada, dan yang akan ada sudah lama ada; dan Allah mencari yang sudah lalu.
 
Kita mengetahui bahwa kunci dari ayat-ayat kontroversial di atas adalah supaya kita memahami bahwa musim apapun yang kita lewati atas kehendak Tuhan  itu indah pada waktunya dan yang paling penting supaya Tuhan menaruhkan hal-hal yang kekal dalam kita sebagai buahnya. Apakah hal yang kekal itu? Tidak lain dan tidak bukan adalah sifat-sifat Tuhan sendiri. (Kisah naik mobil hujan-hujan untuk buah kerendahan hati). Kita perlu mengenali kesempatan untuk berbuah. Kesempatan untuk berbuah adalah kasih karunia.
 
 
        Proses-proses Vertilisasi, Pemberian pupuk Ini yang dimaksud dengan diberi pupuk supaya bisa berbuah. Ini biasanya sebuah situasi yang tidak enak sebuah pengalaman lembah yang akan menghasilkan kerendahan hati Sehingga berhenti dari melakukan kehendak sendiri dan mulai melakukan kehendak Tuhan.
Pemberian pupuk ini berarti diberi sampah (bhs Inggris menyebutnya DUNK). Arti rohani dari pemberian pupuk adalah tantangan, oposisi atau hal-hal yang datang dalam bentuk krisis. Di sinilah kita dituntut bukan melawan oposisi dengan tenaga kita. Justru kita dapat menggunakan kekuatan oposisi untuk keuntungan dan kemajuan kita. Kita dapat menggunakan prinsip olahraga berselancar dan bukan bertinju. Kalau dalam bertinju kita mengumpulkan tenaga untuk menghantam oposisi kita dan setelah melepaskan pukulan pada oposisi kita biasanya tenaga kita terkuras, tetapi kalau berselancar kita justru menggunakan tenaga ombak atau gelombang untuk meluncur diatasnya. Itu punya pengertian bahwa kita harus menggunakan krisis secara kreatif untuk dapat berselancar di atasnya yang hasilnya adalah kemajuan kita.
 
 
 
4.      Berbuah Karena Menabur.
 
Ada satu hukum yang tidak akan pernah berhenti berlaku dalam kehidupan ini selama bumi masih ada dan hukum itu adalah hukum menabur dan menuai. Sebab Tuhan berfirman:
Kejadian 8:22 Selama bumi masih ada, takkan berhenti-henti musim menabur dan menuai, dingin dan panas, kemarau dan hujan, siang dan malam."
Kita hanya menuai apa yang kita tabur. Artinya kita hanya menuai yang sejenis dengan yang kita tabur. Saudara tidak mungkin menuai anggur kalau saudara menabur durian misalnya.
Sebelum kita membahas lebih jauh mengenai tabur tuai ini saya sebaiknya akan membuat perbedaan yang jelas mengenai hukum tabur tuai ini dibandingkan dengan hukum karma yang diyakini oleh penganut agama Hindu. Dalam Buku “The World Religion” Bruce J. Nicholls menyatakan hal ini:
Karma adalah “tindakan” atau “perbuatan” yang merupakan suatu penafsiran dari hukum alamiah tentang sebab akibat di mana setiap tindakan adalah akibat dari suatu sebab dan pada saatnya akan merupakan sebab dari suatu akibat.
Sesuai dengan hukum karma seseorang bisa saja lahir kembali sebagai dewa, anggota dari kasta yang tinggi atau rendah bahkan menjadi binatang, sesuai dengan setiap pikiran, perkataan atau perbuatannya. Setiap orang untuk itu selalu membawa masalalunya, bahkan mereka adalah masalalu mereka.
Hukum ini adalah prinsip dari reaksi moral yang berlaku baik untuk hal yang baik ataupun jahat. Seperti yang ditabur orang itu yang dituainya. Perbuatan jahat menuai penderitaan dan keterikatan bagi keberadaan manusia sedangkan perbuatan baik menuntun pada kemerdekaan dari keterikatannya. Seperti hukum ini tidak dapat dihindarkan dalam alam ini begitu pula hukum ini pasti dalam alam rohani[1].
Sedangkan dalam Firman Tuhan ada suatu keadaan yang mengubah kehidupan manusia yaitu pertobatan. Kalau dalam hukum karma keadaan manusia ditentukan oleh manusia itu sendiri (ciri dari agama) maka dalam Firman Tuhan ada yang disebut dengan intervensi Tuhan dalam menolong manusia keluar dari masalah dosa dalam kehidupan mereka. Hukum tabur tuai dalam Alkitab adalah hukum yang menyatakan keadilan Allah tapi bukan berarti dalam keadilanNya Tuhan tidak lagi berbelaskasihan. Di sinilah kasih karunia akan sangat berarti.
Sekarang mari kita lihat bagaimana kita berbuah karena menabur;
 
Apa yang kita tabur ?
Kita perlu memperhatikan apa yang kita tabur. Gal 6:7-10
6:7 Jangan sesat! Allah tidak membiarkan diri-Nya dipermainkan. Karena apa yang ditabur orang, itu juga yang akan dituainya.
6:8 Sebab barangsiapa menabur dalam dagingnya, ia akan menuai kebinasaan dari dagingnya, tetapi barangsiapa menabur dalam Roh, ia akan menuai hidup yang kekal dari Roh itu.
6:9 Janganlah kita jemu-jemu berbuat baik, karena apabila sudah datang waktunya, kita akan menuai, jika kita tidak menjadi lemah.
6:10 Karena itu, selama masih ada kesempatan bagi kita, marilah kita berbuat baik kepada semua orang, tetapi terutama kepada kawan-kawan kita seiman.
 
Arti menabur di sini adalah pikiran, perkataan dan tindakan yang kita hasilkan dalam kehidupan. Ada pernyataan yang berkata menabur pikiran menuai tindakan, menabur tindakan menuai kebiasaan, menabur kebiasaan menuai karakter dan menabur karakter menuai dalam kekekalan.
Dalam ayat yang kita baca kita harus perhatikan baik-baik kata ini: jangan sesat! Allah tidak membiarkan diriNya dipermainkan. Punya pengertian kita semua manusia menabur di hadapan Tuhan. Untuk itu bersikaplah benar.
Dalam ayat di atas kita harus menabur dalam Roh, punya pengertian bahwa perkataan, pikiran dan perbuatan kita seharusnya lahir dari kehidupan yang dipimpin atau dikuasai oleh Roh demikian juga sebaliknya dengan kehidupan kedagingan.
Di sinilah kita perlu sekali untuk membuat keputusan dalam kasih karunia Tuhan untuk setiap saat dikuasai oleh Roh Kudus.
 
Bagaimana Kita menabur?
Dengan menunjukkan sikap mental yang baik kepada sesama kita, secara khusus saudara-saudara seiman.
Berbuat baik kepada sesama yang didasari oleh cinta kepada Tuhan dan cinta pada sesama.
 
2 Kor 9:6-15
9:6. Camkanlah ini: Orang yang menabur sedikit, akan menuai sedikit juga, dan orang yang menabur banyak, akan menuai banyak juga.
9:7 Hendaklah masing-masing memberikan menurut kerelaan hatinya, jangan dengan sedih hati atau karena paksaan, sebab Allah mengasihi orang yang memberi dengan sukacita.
9:8 Dan Allah sanggup melimpahkan segala kasih karunia kepada kamu, supaya kamu senantiasa berkecukupan di dalam segala sesuatu dan malah berkelebihan di dalam pelbagai kebajikan.
9:9 Seperti ada tertulis: "Ia membagi-bagikan, Ia memberikan kepada orang miskin, kebenaran-Nya tetap untuk selamanya."
9:10 Ia yang menyediakan benih bagi penabur, dan roti untuk dimakan, Ia juga yang akan menyediakan benih bagi kamu dan melipatgandakannya dan menumbuhkan buah-buah kebenaranmu;
9:11 kamu akan diperkaya dalam segala macam kemurahan hati, yang membangkitkan syukur kepada Allah oleh karena kami.
9:12 Sebab pelayanan kasih yang berisi pemberian ini bukan hanya mencukupkan keperluan-keperluan orang-orang kudus, tetapi juga melimpahkan ucapan syukur kepada Allah.
9:13 Dan oleh sebab kamu telah tahan uji dalam pelayanan itu, mereka memuliakan Allah karena ketaatan kamu dalam pengakuan akan Injil Kristus dan karena kemurahan hatimu dalam membagikan segala sesuatu dengan mereka dan dengan semua orang,
9:14 sedangkan di dalam doa mereka, mereka juga merindukan kamu oleh karena kasih karunia Allah yang melimpah di atas kamu.
9:15 Syukur kepada Allah karena karunia-Nya yang tak terkatakan itu!
 
        Kita harus menabur banyak.
        Kita harus menabur dengan rela.
        Kita harus tahan uji dalam menabur.
 
Buah dari menabur seperti yang Tuhan kehendaki
 
        Berlimpah dalam Kasih Karunia
        Berkecukupan dalam segala sesuatu
        Berkelebihan dalam pelbagai kebajikan
        Diperkaya dalam segala macam kemurahan hati

SENDING BRETHREN


Sending Brethren

Sending gifted brethren existing churches to strengthen them is beneficial to churches that already have elders, but this practice must have played a very key role in stabilizing new church plants in the first century.

Apostles Sending Brethren

In many cases, we see that an apostle would send one of his co-workers back to an existing church to help strengthen it. We often read of Timothy and Titus being sent to strengthen existing churches. These men traveled with Paul, helping in the work of preaching, teaching, and planting churches. Paul even indicates that Timothy and Silas were ‘apostles of Christ’ along with himself. But there were other, less-famous men that Paul sent to strengthen churches as well.

Paul sent Tychicus and Onesimus to Colosae to comfort the church there. He sent Tychicus to Ephesus to send word of how he was doing and to comfort the hearts of the Ephesians.

The short epistle of II John deals with the issue of receiving brethren. These brethren may have been sent by John or by a local church that John was associated with.

Churches Sending Brethren

In addition to apostles sending brethren back and forth, churches also sent brethren to other churches to strengthen them.

The first church we read about in the book of Acts was in Jerusalem. The church in Jerusalem numbered in the thousands. At the beginning of Acts 8, we read that the Jerusalem church was scattered throughout Judea and Samaria during a time of great persecution. Acts 11:19-21 shows us that some of these brethren went as far as Antioch. In Antioch, something rather new began to happen. Instead of evangelizing Jews only, the believers in Antioch also preached Christ to the Greeks. Many repented and believed.

This church, with a huge number of new converts, was probably in need of help. The Jerusalem church responded to this need by sending Barnabas.

Acts 11:22-26
22 Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.
23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.
24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.
25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:
26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

There is no indication that Barnabas was ordained as an elder or deacon of the church in Jerusalem before he was sent out. It is also important to notice that neither Saul nor Barnabas stayed in Antioch permanently as ‘full-time pastor.’ Instead, we see that they taught the church in Antioch for a whole year. Later, these two would be sent by the Spirit on a mission often referred to as the First Missionary Journey.

We also see that the Jerusalem church was generous with its ‘human resources.’ The Jerusalem saints could have decided that they did not want to get rid of a fine man like Barnabas. Instead, they were generous. They wanted to help their brethren in Antioch.

During the time Barnabas and Saul were in Antioch, the church there also received ministry from prophets visiting from Jerusalem.

Acts 11:27-28
27 And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.
28 And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.

Whether Agabus and the other prophets were sent with commendation from the church in Jerusalem, we do not know. But we do see here the importance of brethren circulating between churches in different cities in order to strengthen them.

Acts 15 tells of the apostles and elders in Jerusalem sending other brethren to strengthen the church in Antioch.

Acts 15:22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:

15:32-33
32 And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.
33 And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.

Here again we see that the Jerusalem church sent prophets to help strengthen the saints in Antioch. They were able to let go of ‘chosen men’ from among their own company. The Jerusalem church may have lost some of their own valuable people for a time, but they were concerned with the other churches. Jerusalem’s generosity was a great blessing to the Gentiles. Silas and Barnabas, both men that the Jerusalem church sent to help the Antioch church, later became a great blessing to many Gentiles. They both ministered with Paul, spreading the Gospel throughout new territories.

It is interesting to note that Silas and Judas were sent to Antioch with a written recommendation from the apostles and elders in Jerusalem. The letter also pointed out that the Jerusalem church had not sent the false teachers. Those teaching Gentile circumcision earlier had come from Jerusalem. It may have wrongly appeared to some in Antioch that these men had the endorsement of the Jerusalem church. In the case of Silas and Judas, the apostles and elders wrote a letter, which clarified that these men did indeed have the churches endorsement, unlike the Gentile circumcision teachers who had gone up earlier.

Letters of Commendation

Other believers besides Paul and Silas were sent with letters of commendation. Consider the case of Apollos.

Acts 18:24-28
24 And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.
25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.
26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.
27 And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:
28 For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.

Apollos presents an interesting case. Though Apollos had a partial knowledge of Jesus before he met Priscilla and Aquila, he had a thorough knowledge of the scriptures. After being more carefully instructed, Apollos was a powerful minister in the church. There is no indication that Apollos was ordained with the laying on of hands in this passage, but the believers in Ephesus apparently recognized his gifts. While the passage does not say that the church decided to send Apollos, they certainly were willing to write a letter of commendation for Apollos to the brethren in Achaia, so that Apollos would be well received. Apollos is an excellent example of a brother being sent to edify a new church. Paul speaks well of Apollos ‘watering’ ministry in Corinth in I Corinthians 4. Gifted visiting brethren can be useful in the word that has been planted by church planters in new churches.

Unlike Apollos, who probably had that letter of commendation with him when he went from Ephesus to the church in Corinth, Paul wrote that he did not need a letter of commendation to the Corinthians.

II Corinthians 3:1-2
1 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?
2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:

Paul didn’t need letters to the Corinthians. They already knew him. He had brought the Gospel there. Paul’s reference to letters of commendation indicate that sending such letters was a common practice. Paul agreed to send money to Jerusalem by whomever the Corinthians would commend by their letters. Paul even includes commendations in some of his epistles, such as his instructions to the Romans to receive a sister named Phoebe, servant of the church in Cenchrea.

Some churches today do send letters with members in good standing when they transfer to other churches. Some may see ordination papers as a type of letter of commendation. Both are a little different from what we see in scripture. Sending a letter with a godly member who plans to move to another city may well be a good practice, but many of the letters sent with brethren in scripture were written to endorse their ministries. Ordination papers are a bit different from the letters of commendation in scripture as well. Some get ordination papers through following a set of academic guidelines or other requirements of a denomination. It is possible for someone to be ordained without having a close relationship with those doing the ordination. The letters in commendation in scripture endorse the character of the brethren with whom they are sent. Letters of ordination can last a lifetime. The letters of commendation in scripture were written as needs arose. When a person was to be sent to another church, a letter of commendation was written. Paul wrote many commendations for Timothy. He didn’t just write one letter for Timothy to use for a lifetime. A lifetime letter of commendation can be dangerous because a preacher of the Gospel can fall into sin or error. In a couple of epistles, Paul sends greetings from a brother named Demas, but in another, he informs his readers that Demas had left him, having loved this present world. Offering current letters of commendation is a wiser practice than one-time ordination papers.

An obvious difference between the letters of commendation in the scriptures and letters of ordination is that ordination papers are often associated with local overseership ministry. There is no indication that local overseers needed ordination papers in the Bible. Why would they? The churches in which they were ordained would already know them. Some of the brethren sent between churches that we see in the New Testament probably had never been ordained by the laying on of hands like elders. There is no indication that prophets needed such ordination, or that Apollos had been ordained. These men had gifts from God. The churches they were a part of recognized these gifts, and sent them on.

Letters of commendation could be sent from the disciples, as in the case of Apollos, by apostles and elders, as in the case of Judas and Silas, or from a single apostle like Paul. No letter of commendation in scripture was ever originated by a denominational headquarters in response to completing a course of academic study.

The Need for Sending Brethren in Modern Church Planting Efforts

Many strategies to plant churches today are based on the idea of a church planter either staying permanently with a new church as a pastor. This strategy could tie down a church planter, and keep him from fulfilling his calling in other areas. Other strategies allow for a church planter to bring a specially educated, ordained minister to serve as pastor before moving on.

But in scripture, we see that the practice of the apostles was to appoint men from within local churches to be elders and oversee the local flock of God. Leaving churches behind with no one mature to care for them is a painful option for many church planters. Paul and Barnabas did this early on in their church planting, but we see that later in Paul’s ministry, as the number of Christians in Gentile areas grew, there were a number of men that Paul could send to existing churches to help them be strengthened in the faith. Existing churches were also able to send brethren to less mature churches.

Antioch is an interesting case for us to examine. The many new believers there needed teaching and strengthening. Paul and Barnabas helped the church during this crucial time, but then continued on to a greater level of ministerial responsibility that the Lord had for them. Prophets who visited Antioch from Jerusalem also helped to strengthen them. A church with many resources sent help to a church with fewer resources.

Indonesia’s churches have many ‘human resources.’ Many think of church planters, evangelists, and pastors as the human resources that can be used in church planting. The way church meetings have been conducted for centuries has caused us to pay attention to a few ordained ministers, who have chosen to pursue ministry as an occupation. However, Paul teaches us that everyone has received a gift to edify the whole body of Christ. We should expect there to be many believers who have gifts that could strengthen and comfort new believers in church planting efforts.

Imagine how wonderful it would be for a church planter who realizes the Biblical pattern of God raising up elders from within new churches, to know many mature believers who are willing to visit these new church planters to prophesy, and teach doctrine, how to sing and worship God, intercession, or whatever a new church needs.

Ultimately, new believers in a new church should grow and mature. A church should eventually have teachers, prophets, elders, and the various other members of the body. Church planters and brethren sent behind a church planter to strengthen the work should have this vision in mind.

According to Hebrews 5:12, after a certain period of time, if a church grows and matures properly, its members should become teachers. This doesn’t always happen. Some churches don’t mature properly. The practice of having new believers sit and listen only, and never use their gifts to edify others, can stunt the spiritual growth of a church. Those who minister to new churches should keep in mind the vision of new believers growing to use their own spiritual gifts.

‘Reproduction’ is a key word to keep in mind. Teachers should seek to train new teachers in a church. Prophets should encourage the gift of prophecy in a church. Consider Paul’s instructions to Timothy, which shows the reproducible nature of the gift of teaching.

II Timothy 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

Let us consider the advantages to itinerant church planters followed by visiting gifted brethren who ‘water’ their work, in comparison to traditional methods of church planting. One major advantage is that the method of the planting and watering method is that we have scriptural examples of this type of ministry. Paul commanded churches to follow his example and to hold to the traditions he taught.

Another major advantage is that this method allows church planters to plant many more churches. Huge amounts of money need not be spent on campaigns to train young Bible college students to be professional pastors. Allowing the Lord to raise up local elderships is much less expensive. Churches can be established that follow Biblical patterns for leadership, rather than innovations that have been introduced throughout church history.

Visits from gifted brethren can be a key ingredient in helping new congregations develop, grow, and mature until the new church's own gifted brethren are mature in their own lives and ministries. We can all see how teachers can come and strengthen a new church. But there are brethren with gifts that attract less attention who can strengthen new churches as well. Have you ever been to a church where there was a total lack of joy and enthusiasm while the saints were singing to the Lord? A brother or sister who is fervent in praise and worship can stir up other believers just by singing with fervor. In the house church I attend, the intensity of our praise and worship has been greatly increased by a brother and his wife who have started attending. Their excitement in worship is contagious.

If a young church needs to learn to pray, a gifted intercessor from another church can come to a prayer meeting and pray with the new believers, giving them an example of fervent prayer. Even brethren with gifts that seem more mundane, like administration, can come and help new churches set their affairs in order.

One Irian Jayan brother I know helps other churches by teaching their leaders not to simply store church funds mixed in with their own money, but rather to keep it church funds in a separate place. This type of advice may be obvious to many of us, but some new believers need to learn such simple skills.

Some visiting brethren may be able to move to an area where there are new churches to be a part of the local body and encourage new believers. Others may be able to take a few weeks off of work, using their vacation time to strengthen new churches. Gifted college students may be able to use some time during their summer breaks to stay in the home of a new believers who is part of a new church plant, and share their gifts in church meetings and at other times. Some brethren who visit may be able to take a long trip just to visit for one meeting.

Imagine how the burden on apostles and evangelists would be eased if, every time they planted a church and were called to leave it, they knew that saints from other, more mature churches, were ready and able to come and strengthen existing churches.

Think of an evangelist, on the frontiers of the Gospel. He goes to a village and preaches the Gospel and goes on to new territory. After some time, the believers in the village grow and mature through ministering to one another and by receiving ministry from visiting brethren from other churches. The evangelist later returns, spending time with the villagers he won to Christ and their spiritual children. From this village, he goes out to another, nearby, unreached village. When he leaves this village, he can ask brethren from the first village he evangelized to visit and strengthen the new church plant. In this way, the Gospel can spread, and evangelists and apostles can be free to travel and preach the Gospel. The burden of discipling and encouraging new churches can be shared with existing churches.

There are probably a multitude of believers in Indonesia who could help water church planting efforts, but who don’t think of it as their place to do so. Many believers have gifts, but, because of tradition and the practice of many churches, don’t realize that they are supposed to be using these gifts in church meetings. If they realized that their gifts are to be used in church gatherings, and can be of use in gatherings of new church plants, many of these people might be excited at the possibility of being used by God in this way to advance the Gospel.

The Biblical methods for church planting and strengthening existing churches are superior to many of the methods later generations have invented.

© Paul L. Hudson, Jr. 2001

15 Pandangan hakekat gereja


15 PANDANGAN HAKEKAT GEREJA
1.Gereja adalah gaya hidup,bukan seri pertemuan agamawi.
Kita harus memperlihatkan suatu kehidupan sehari-hari sebagai perpanjangan keluarga rohani yang sekaligus merupakan jawaban yang nyata terhadap pertanyaan-pertanyaan yang dihadapi lingkungan sekitarnya. Mereka disebut “Jalan” (Kis 9:2).
2.Waktu Untuk Merubah Sistem
Pada abad ke 4 gereja ortodoks mengadopsi sistem keagamaan yang mirip Perjanjian Lama dan mjuga sistem pola penyembahan di dalam sinagoge, lengkap dengan imam(pendeta), altar (mimbar), kuil Kristen(Katedral/gedung gereja) , asap kemenyan dan suatu pola penyembahan ala sinagoga orang Yahudi.Sampai saat ini belum ada suatu denominasi pun yang benar-benar merubah struktur tersebut.
3.Reformasi Ke Tiga
Marthin Luther memulai reformasi teologia(Keselamatan melalui iman dan kasih karunia); gerakan Moravians pada abad 18 membawa pemulihan keintiman dengan Tuhan yang merupakan reformasi ke dua. Saat ini Tuhan sedang mencetuskan reformasi ke tiga, yaitu reformasi struktur.
4.Dari Bangunan Bait Allah Ke Gereja Di Lingkungan Keluarga
Kisah 7:48-50. Gereja adalah kumpulan umat Allah. Jadi baik dulu maupun sekarang gereja selalu ada di rumah-rumah sebagaimana orang-orang juga berada di rumah biasa, ada kebersamaan untuk saling melayani dengan penuh kasih,penerimaan dan pengampunan.
5.Gereja Harus Menjadi Kecil Untuk Bertumbuh Menjadi Besar
-Gereja Perjanjian Baru merupakan kumpulan dari gereja-gereja di rumah dan tidak bertumbuh ke atas menjadi jemaat bergedung besar, tetapi bertumbuh atau bermultiplikasi ke “samaping”, jemaat gereja rumah tersebut bereproduksi atau memecah setelah anggotanya berjumlah 15-20 orang agar bisa tetap terbina komunikasi secara ideal. Jika memungkinkan mereka berkumpul melakukan ibadah raya.
6.Tidak Ada Gereja Yang Hanya Dipimpin Oleh Seorang Gembala Saja
Sebuah gereja lokal atau rumah dibapai oleh seorang penatua, orang lokal yang penuh hikmat dan dibantu oleh anggota-anggota yang memiliki jawatan(Ef 2:20,4:11,12). Peran gembala itu penting namun harus diperansertakan ke 4 jawatan lainnya.
7.Potongan yang benar – dipersatukan dengan cara yang salah
Mengapa kita mengalami kesulitan di dalam menempatkan orang yang tepat di tempat yang tepat? Karena rasa takut, tradisi, kecemburuan agamawi dan mental. Hingga terutama jawatan rasul dan nabi dikebiri.
8.Allah Tidak Meletakkan Gereja Pada Tangan Pemimpin Profesional Yang Birokrasi
Didalam gereja Perjanjian Baru, gereja tidak pernah dipimpin oleh “Seorang” suci profesional. Profesionalisme dalam gereja dimulai sejak masa Konstantin, yang membagi gereja menjadi golongan awam dan profesional atau klerus. Tanpa sadar bahwa gereja menjadi tawanan birokrasi dan roh kontrol Babel,. Saat ini Tuhan memulihkan gerejaNya untuk dipimpin oleh orang biasa.
9.Dari Kekristenan Yang Terorganisir Menjadi Kekristenan Yang Organisme
Tubuh Kristus adalah bentuk suatu organisme dan bukan organisasi. Gereja Rumah dalam tingkat lokal terdiri dari banyak keluarga rohani(organik) berhubungan satu dengan yang lain sebagai suatu jaringan dan berfungsi sesuai bagiannya. Kita harus merubah sistem menjadi minimum organisasi dan maksimum organisme.
10. Dari “Menyembah Penyembahan” Menjadi “Menyembah Allah”
Bentuk Penyembahan pada Allah saat ini telah diformalkan dan menjadi tradisi yang kalau melibatkan profesionalisme dalam bidang tarik suara dan musik gerejawi. Tuhan sendiri menekankan menyembah dalam roh dan kebenaran(Yoh 4:21-24,Ibr 10:19-20).
11.Beralih Dari Membawa Orang Ke Gereja Dan Mulai Membawa Gereja Pada Orang-Orang
Kita harus menjadi terang dan garam (Mat 28:19-20,Mrk 16:15-18)
12.Menemukan Kembali Arti “ Perjamuan Tuhan”
Tidak hanya sekedar perjamuan kudus, tetapi ada persekutuan dengan acara makan yang sesungguhnya.
13.Dari Berbagai Denominasi Pada Perayaan Sekota
Yesus tidak pernah membagi-bagi gerejanya dalam kelompok denominasi.Kita harus kembali ke Alkitab pada model gereja sekota.
14.Mengembangkan Roh Tahan Uji Terhadap Aniaya
Mat 5:10-12, penganiayaan ini bisa dalam beragam bentuk, baik aniaya dari agama lain, dosa, penyembahan berhala, materialisme, kecemburuan, roh-roh jahat, etika, seks,uang dan kuasa. Terutama ajaran penyembahan terhadap diri sendiri. Hati-hati bahaya teologia kemakmuran.
15.Gereja Perlu kembali Pulang Ke Rumah
Orang serumah adalah saksi dalam kehidupan kita.Dimana segala yang dia lakukan dan katakan secara langsung diperhadapkan dengan ujian rohani kenyataan, di mana kemunafikan akan secara efektif dihilangkan dan kemurnian akan bertumbuh. Tuhan menghendaki pemulihan dalam setiap “rumah”(KK).
* Disadur dari buku HOUSES THAT CHANGES THE WORLD karya Wolfgang Simson

NO Fellowship? No Problem!


NO FELLOWSHIP? NO PROBLEM!
by Chip Brogden

You will never truly appreciate or benefit from fellowship until you have learned how to live without it.


There already is a fellowship of saints. It is a spiritual fellowship, and it is based on Christ having the preeminence – not the fellowship having preeminence. All this yearning for fellowship and being with others is the result of being hung-over from the religious system. You're trying to fill a void that religion used to fill.



The purpose of solitude in the spiritual desert is to get you to see that Jesus is Enough. You're not going to die from lack of fellowship, but if you don't learn that Jesus is Enough then spiritually speaking you're dead already. He's the One you need to be focused on – not starting a fellowship, not finding a home group, not making something happen with other people.



And already I can hear the "yeah buts". "Yeah, but God made us to be social beings. Yeah, but God knows we need encouragement from other believers. Yeah, but the Bible says forsake not the assembling of yourselves together as the manner of some is. Yeah, but we're all supposed to be part of the Body of Christ. Yeah, but there's just something about gathering together with like-minded believers. Yeah, but you just don't understand what it's like." Yeah, but I do understand - I've been through that part of the desert before, and what I'm trying to tell you is God wishes to know if you love Him or if you love fellowship with others. God wishes to know if you are in love with Him or if you are in love with things about Him. God wishes to know if you seek Him or seek a meeting about Him.



There are times and seasons where He calls you to be alone and apart with Him. I’m not saying it will always be like that, but what if it is? What if He calls you to walk alone with Him for the rest of your life? Is Jesus enough for you?



I asked that question of a group of Christians once: is Jesus enough for you? Because most Christians do not believe this. They want Jesus, but they also want fellowship with others. Really, do you know what Christians want? Not fellowship with others. That sounds so spiritual. Really what they want is acceptance from other Christians. You go deep down and that's what they want. They want to feel accepted by other Christians. Well, all I can tell you is that you're setting yourself up for a huge disappointment. Eventually there will come a time when you will have to decide between the truth that God has revealed to you and the acceptance of other Christians. Now it hurts when you are not accepted by other Christians. It hurts when other Christians misunderstand you and speak all manner of evil against you falsely when you have spoken the truth to them in love.



But the bottom line is your spiritual life and walk with God does not depend upon the acceptance of other Christians. You might think it does, and it sure makes things easier, but it is not a condition of following Christ – making sure other Christians understand and accept you. The deeper you go into God the more unacceptable you will be to other Christians. Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ is Himself, "Despised and rejected, a Man of Sorrows, and acquainted with grief." Jesus would not be, and is not, accepted by most Christians, and do you know that does not change Him and His relationship with His Father? He is Lord whether you accept Him or not, my friend. And if you are His disciple then He accepts you whether the rest of the Christian population accepts you or not.



What I have found is that whenever I ignore the season God has me in, and I try to create fellowship, or seek fellowship, outside of the time and place appointed by My Father, it always ends in disaster. It creates problems, it becomes a disappointment, or it turns into a distraction from what He wants for my life.



And that is never more true than the period of time when you are fresh out of the religious system. You've been under a religious spirit for so many years, and don't think you can just wake up one day, stop going to church, and be set free from that religious mindset. You think you need fellowship, you think you need meetings, you think you need other people in your life, you think you need all these things, and you are in error. That's the religious habit talking. It's just like a drug.



"Oh brother Chip, I'm so lonely, I've been going to church every Sunday for twenty years and now we just sit home on Sunday and we feel so empty inside!" Well praise God, if that's where God has you right now then thank God for it. Stop looking for other people to fill a void that only Christ can fill. You've been covering up that void with a lot of religious junk and He's stripping all that away. He's trying to build something in you, so let Him do it according to the times and seasons that He has appointed. Don't rush through that process. Get comfortable with just you and God. My goodness, you don't even know what it's like to walk with God and just be hidden in Him because your whole life you've been following Him in a crowd, worshipping Him in a crowd, praying to Him in a crowd, learning about Him in a crowd.



Enoch walked with God, and he didn't have anyone else to fellowship with.



Noah walked with God and he didn't anyone but his family.



Abraham walked with God and he didn't have a house church to go to.



Moses spent forty years in the desert and it didn't hurt him a bit, he came out better than he went in.



Jesus walked with God and every single one of His friends and disciples denied Him and fled when He needed them the most.



You give people too much credit for your spiritual well-being and don't give God enough credit. I'd rather be alone with God than have a crowd of people without Him.



Now that doesn't diminish anything the Bible says about the Body of Christ. But you've got to learn how to get connected to the Head before you try to get connected to the Body. Body Life is only as good as the Body's relationship to the Head. The Body has no life in itself apart from the Head. If you read what the Bible says about the Body of Christ, you notice it doesn't say that we are supposed to seek out our place in the Body or try to insert ourselves into place. It says He sets us in the Body of Christ according to His will. His will, not ours. You try to set yourself in place and you'll get it wrong.



The Bible does not say "hold fast to the Body" or "hold fast to the members of the Body", it says "hold fast to the Head." The Bible does not say, "Seek ye first the fellowship of others", but "seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness, and all these things – including fellowship – will be added to you." You learn to do that and the rest will take care of itself, in the time and manner that God sees fit.



Take your hands off that whole issue of fellowship and cast that concern onto the Lord. Go to Him and say, "Lord, here I am in a desert place, it's dry, and it's lonely, and it looks like there's no fellowship. But You are My Rock, My Fortress, My Hiding Place, You lead me and direct my steps. You be My Fellowship. If you see fit to bring me into relationship and fellowship with others, fine; but if not, then I trust that You are more than Enough to meet my spiritual, emotional, and social needs. I can live without fellowship Lord, but I cannot live without You!"



Now folks, I have been in that place so many times I don't even have to pray about it anymore. I've just learned to trust God in this area, and I know He is sufficient. It's settled in me. It's not even a thing I pray about anymore. I want it to become settled in your heart as well. Let the desert do its work.